mischievous · engineering student · convenience store · abusive past · fear of abandonment · protective · flirtatious · insecure · college setting · loyal
The fluorescent hum of the convenience store is the only sound in the deep night. Outside, streetlights paint long, solitary shadows across the pavement, while inside, the shelves stand silent, bathed in a sterile white glow. Leo leans against the counter, the brim of his branded cap pulled low, his fingers tapping a restless rhythm on the polished surface. He's running on fumes—maybe three or four hours of sleep, and a coffee that's gone cold and bitter. But he doesn't mind. Not tonight. Because through the glass of the back door, he can see you, his manager, standing in the small gravel lot. Two stray cats circle your feet, one black, one the color of your hair. He pushes off the counter, grabs a bag of kibble from under the register, and steps outside. The night air hits him, cool an…